Summary
Dead by Daylightis an ever-growing game, with countless items, Add-Ons, Killer powers, and perks to figure out. One of the most crucial aspects of the game is the various status effects that can greatly impact both Survivors and Killers. Unfortunately, in-game, there are very few indications of what each status effect means inDead by Daylight, making itdifficult for inexperienced playersto play around them.
Some status effects can be beneficial, whereas others are completely detrimental, but it can be tricky figuring out which does what. Here, players can find a comprehensive list ofall the status effects inDead by Daylightexplained.
Updated July 17, 2025 by Mara Cowley: Dead by Daylight is still a game with a thriving userbase, owing its longevity to the amount of licensed content BHVR have managed to collect over the years, from movie legends such as Michael Myers to popular pop culture shows such as Stranger Things. With the game only on its way to release more exciting DLC such as Dungeons and Dragons and Castlevania, a whole slew of new players will be making their way into the fog sooner rather than later.
There are many tips and tricks players will need to play effectively, and one of the most basic is learning all of the status effects for survivors and killers. This article breaks down the basic statuses and has been given a full update to ensure all the information is up-to-date and correct.
1Deafened
Nullifies Players Hearing
Deafened is perhaps the rarest and most under-utilized status effect inDead by Daylight. It can affect both Survivors and Killers, reducing the hearing to a muffled tinnitus-like effect, which can be useful for masking nearby sounds like footsteps.
The most common way this is inflicted is by Killers runningthe Cannibal’s perkKnock Out, but Survivors can inflict it with limited-time items such as firecrackers.
2Glyph
The Orange Glyph Imposes A Challenge On The Killer
There are several glyphs Survivors and/or Killers can interact with during trials, each one requiring a different approach or entailing a different effect. The orange glyph challenge is not only a glyph but a status effect, as Killers will be saddled with various afflictions until they hook Survivors a total of six times.
Until they succeed, Killers will suffer from an increased cooldown of their basic attacks, an increased recovery time from stuns and taking longer to break walls, palettes, and damage generators.
3Sleep Penalty
Survivors Take Longer To Awaken
The Nightmare, aka Freddy Kreuger, is the only Killer that can take Survivors to the Dream World where they are vulnerable to his Killer powers such as fake palettes or pools of blood. Survivors can awaken themselves with alarm clocks or by another Survivor who is currently awake.
However, once Survivors wake up, they will suffer from the sleep penalty the next time they fall asleep, meaning that it will take longer for them to wake up next time.
4Hooked
Survivors Have Been Placed On A Hook, And Can Only Await Rescue
Hooked is one of the most basic status effects that needs very little explanation. Hooking is the most integral interaction a Killer will have in the game, as it is their job to hook the Survivors, leading to them being sacrificed to the Entity.
When Survivors are hooked, they are unable to do anything but await rescue or rescue themselves. When they are hooked for a second time, they must succeed in skill checks to fend off the Entity. The third hook leads to their demise.
5Infected
A Killer-Specific Status
The Mastermind introduced a new status to inflict upon Survivors–the Infected Status. A circle will start growing around the player’s portrait, and they will see worm-like creatures crawling around the character. This status is timed, and once the circle is complete, it will change from white to red.
Once red, Survivors will be more vulnerable to the Mastermind’s Virulent Bound, making him able to immediately pick a Survivor up after a successful bound.
6Latched-On
One Of The Two Twins Can Inflict This Status
The Twins are two killers rolled into one, with big sister Charlotte housing her parasitical younger twin Victor in her chest. Charlotte is the only one who can pick up and carry Survivors, and Victor makes this easier for her with his pounce.
Victor can pounce on Survivors, and if he lands he will latch on to Survivors, granting Charlotte Killer Instinct, injuring the Survivors and rendering them unable to do anything other than break free of him.
7Locked-On
Can Place Multiple Afflictions On Survivors
The Skull Merchant arrived with a host of drones to help give herself an advantage against the Survivors. If they remain too long in the detection range of one of the drones, they will eventually be inflicted with the Locked-on status.
When a Survivor is locked on, healthy Survivors are injured, Survivors already injured suffer a deep wound, and all Survivors become broken, placing them at great risk of being downed.
8Marked
Ghostface Marks Survivors To Make Them Vulnerable
Ghostface is one of the few Killers that has an insta-down ability as part of his kit. Like the masked slasher from the movie seriesScream, Ghostface silently stalks his foes, staring at them long enough to mark them.
When marked, Survivors become exposed for 60 seconds andmust try to outlastthe marked time to avoid being instantly downed. Survivors can halt Ghostface’s attempts to mark by staring at him while he is in stealth form.
9Obsession
A Survivor Is Chosen At Random To Be The Obsession
Obsession is one status effect that is guaranteed to affect at least one Survivor per trial. For each match, one Survivor will be chosen randomly to be the Obsession, but certain perks can switch the label of Obsession to another Survivor.
Alone, this status effect doesn’t do anything, but there are perks for both Survivors and Killers that play into the obsession mechanic, such as Dying Light and Blood Pact.
10Sickness
This Status Will Make Characters And Players Queasy
The Plague’s unique Killer power is the most sickening, as she sprays her vomit onto Survivors to infect them with the same sickness. This will be displayed on the Survivor’s profile with a pool of vomit.
There are two stages to the Sickness status, and once Survivors reach the second stage they will be injured, broken, and contagious. The only cure is the water fountains scattered across the map.
